Adjustable spindle arm for motion picture projectors

ABSTRACT

A motion picture projector provided with means for supporting film supply cartridges of different film capacities with the rotational axes of their film supply reels at respective different predetermined positions includes a supply reel support spindle carried by an arm which is angularly adjustable about an axis parallel to the spindle to selectively position the spindle at different ones of such predetermined positions of the reel axes. Preferably, detent means are provided to hold the arm at locations in which the spindle is at such predetermined positions.

ite States atent [19] Palmer May 22,1973

[54] ADJUSTABLE SPINDLE ARM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS [75] Inventor: Allan M. Palmer, Rochester, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 61,554

[51] int. Cl. ..G03b 23/02 [58] Field of Search ..242/192, 195, 197,

242/198, 207, 209, 210, 208, 206, 71.1, 71.2, 68.3, 205, 181; 352/72, 73, 78,157, l58;274/4 B,4 C, 11 B, 11 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,583,655 6/1971 Roman ..242/l97 3,603,529 9/1971 Bundschuh ..242/ 197 3,468,498 9/1969 Bunting ..242/207 3,542,310 11/1970 Vockenhuber et al ..242/1 92 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,301,246 8/1969 Germany ..242/ 192 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney-Robert W. Hampton and Milton S. Sales [57] ABSTRACT A motion picture projector provided with means for supporting film supply cartridges of different film capacities with the rotational axes of their film supply reels at respective different predetermined positions includes a supply reel support spindle carried by an arm which is angularly adjustable about an axis parallel to the spindle to selectively position the spindle at different ones of such predetermined positions of the reel axes. Preferably, detent means are provided to hold the arm at locations in which the spindle is at such predetermined positions.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALLEN M. PALMER INVENTUR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALLEN M. PALMER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. PALMER INVENTOR.

ALLEN BY M Kai/ ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE SPINDLE ARM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Applications Ser. No. 777,281 entitled CAR- TRIDGE LOADED PROJECTOR OR THE LIKE, filed in the name of Robert J. Roman on Nov. 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,655; Ser. No. 643,503 entitled CARTRIDGE FOR REEL OF STRIP MATERIAL, filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh and Kenneth W. Thompson on June 5, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,276; Ser. No. 736,524 entitled CARTRIDGE, filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh on Nov. 24, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,952; Ser. No. 685,616 entitled CINEMATOGRAPHIC PROJECTORS OR THE LIKE AND CARTRIDGES FOR USE THERE- WITH, filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh et al. on Nov. 24, 1967, now U.S. Pat. 3,552,683; and Ser. No. 731,562 entitled CARTRIDGE AND MEANS FOR LOCATING A CARTRIDGE ON A PROJEC- TOR OR THE LIKE, filed in the anme of John J. Bundschuh on May 23, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,373.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to self-threading cartridge-loaded motion picture projectors and more particularly to such projectors adapted to accommodate film cartridges of different film capacities.

2. Description of the Prior Art To simplify the use of motion picture projectors, considerable attention has been directed toward providing means whereby film may be automatically stripped from a film supply reel rotatably mounted on the projector, advanced along the threading path of the projector, wound upon a take-up reel and then, upon completion of the projection cycle, rewound upon the supply reel. To facilitate film handling, the supply reel is often rotatably mounted in a film cartridge which is adapted to be received and supported by the projector in a predetermined orientation.

A representative example of such a cartridge-loading projector is disclosed in the commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,616, entitled CINEMATOGRAPHIC PROJECTORS OR THE LIKE AND CARTRIDGES FOR USE THEREWITH filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh et al. on Nov. 24, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,683. In the projector disclosed in that application, means are provided for receiving film cartridges of various capacities, each cartridge being adapted to rotatably support therein a film reel of corresponding capacity. The cartridges are commonly provided with an opening in the side walls thereof through which a rotatable spindle of the projector may enter and drivingly engage the film reel contained thereby. With the cartridge positioned on the projector, the film wound upon the reel is radially accessible to a stripping mechanism movable into temporary operative relationship with the film roll on the reel through another cartridge opening; such mechanism being adapted to separate the leading end of the film from the roll and to feed it along or toward a predetermined threading path. Upon completion of the projection cycle, a rewind mechanism initiates a rewind cycle, whereupon the projection gate is opened, the pulldown claw is retracted, and'the film is rapidly rewound onto the supply reel. Further details and features of the aforementioned film stripping and threading mechanism and of film supply cartridges adapted for use therewith are disclosed in related U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 643,502 entitled CINEMATOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE PROJECTOR APPARATUS, filed in the names of John J. Bundschuh et al. on June 5, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,879; U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,518 entitled DEVICE FOR STRIPPING & FEEDING STRIP MATERIAL FROM A ROLL in the name of Edward S. McKee; U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 643,503 entitled CARTRIDGE FOR REEL OF STRIP MATERIAL, filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh et al. on June 5, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,276; and U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 736,524 entitled CARTRIDGE, filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh on Nov. 24, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,952.

In order that film supply reels of different capacities can be loaded onto the subject type of projector, similar film supply cartridges of different sizes can be provided with substantially identical locating and supporting surfaces as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 731,562 entitled CAR- TRIDGE AND MEANS FOR LOCATING A CAR- TRIDGE ON A PROJECTOR OR THE LIKE, filed in the name of John J. Bundschuh on May 23, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,373.

To enable the stripping and threading mechanism to perform properly notwithstanding the substantial difference in diameters of the film rolls housed in such cartridges, the locating and supporting surfaces of the cartridges are adapted to cooperate with mating means on the projector to position the respective supply reels within the different sized cartridges at predetermined non-coaxial locations. Accordingly, means must be provided for locating the reel spindle, which rotatably supports and drives the supply reel within the cartridge, at such different locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a motion picture projector of the type adapted to receive film supply reels of differing diameters with their axes of rotation at respectively differing predetermined positions is provided with a rotatable supply reel spindle carried on a support arm. The support arm is movably mounted on the projector housing for adjustment to a selected one of a plurality of positions whereby the supply reel spindle is movable into coaxial alignment with the differing rotational axes of the film supply reels so as to serve as a means for rotatably supporting and driving the reels. Preferably, locating and retaining means are provided to accurately position and hold the support arm in its selected position, thereby eliminating further spindle adjustment as long as film reels of that same diameter are employed The invention contemplates positioning of the spindle at locations which do not necessarily lie on an arc of a circle thereby allowing for interchangeable reels whose axes do not define the arc of a circle in their respective positions on the projector.

Various means for practicing the invention and other advantages and novel features thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a self-threading cartridge-loaded motion picture projector in accordance with the present invention illustrating different sizes of cartridges loaded on the projector in respective predetermined positions on the projector;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the film cartridge shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and of that portion of the projector which selectively cooperates with the different sizes of cartridges to locate and support the cartridges in the respective predetermined positions shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the rear side of the projector side well shown in FIG. 2 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the spindle positioning apparatus comprising the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrative projector depicted in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is of the general type disclosed in the above-identified U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,616 and will be seen to comprise a generally rectangular casing 11, including a housing 12 which extends laterally toward the right side of the projector and supports a forwardly facing projection lens assembly 13. Above housing 12, a rotatable film take-up reel spindle or shaft 14 extends laterally outward from vertical wall member 15 and is adapted to receive any of several different diameter film take-up reels. The smallest of such reels is shown in solid lines at 16, with the peripheries of two progressively larger reels being indicated in broken lines at numerals 16a and 16b. However, a single take-up reel which is large enough to accommodate the film from the largest capacity cartridge is provided.

Forwardly of take-up reel spindle 14, a similar supply reel spindle 17 likewise extends laterally outward from wall member 15 to support and impart rotation movement to a film supply reel 18 housed within a film supply cartridge 19 loaded onto the projector. As in the case of the film take-up reels, a small capacity film cartridge 19 is shown loaded onto the projector in solid lines, with the outlines of two similar but progressively larger cartridges being shown respectively in broken lines at 19a and 19b in the loaded positions assumed by those cartridges. The film supply reels within the different sized cartridges 19, 19a and 19b are of corresponding different diameters and therefore accommodate film supply rolls 21 of correspondingly larger maximum diameters.

In accordance with the disclosures of copending U.S. Pat. Applications Ser. Nos. 685,616 and 73 l ,562, all of the film cartridges are provided with similar locating ribs 22, as illustrated on cartridge 19 in FIG. 2. These ribs are adapted to be received in mating positioning slots 23 defined by wall member 15 of the projector. Additionally, latch openings 24 are similarly located with reference to the locating ribs of each of the cartridges and are adapted to be engaged by releasable latch members 25 extending through openings 26 in the projector wall member 15, whereby a cartridge installed on the projector is releasably held in its operative position.

By reference to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the cooperation between the locating ribs on the different sized cartridges and the mating positioning slots on the projector positions the three different sized cartridges with their respective reel hub axes at predetermined different locations. As will be described later in detail, supply reel spindle 17 is adapted to be adjusted to these same predetermined different locations to rotatably support the film supply reel of whichever cartridge is mounted on the projector.

When cartridge 19 is latched in place on the projector, its slotted base portion 27 (FIG. 2) is aligned with a slot 28 in the projector housing and with a film stripping and threading mechanism (not shown). Such a mechanism, disclosed in the commonly assigned copending U.S. Application Ser. No. 777,281 filed Nov. 20, 1968 in the name of Robert J. Roman (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,655), is selectively movable through slot 28 between a first position wherein it is situated within the projector housing directly below slot 28 and an operative second position wherein a portion thereof extends outwardly from slot 28. When in its operative position, it is adapted to enter the base portion 27 of the cartridge housing, drivingly engage the periphery of the film roll so as to rotate the film reel in an unwinding direction and guide the leading portion of the film strip along the threading path of the projector. Upon reaching the projection gate, the mechanism is automatically withdrawn from the cartridge and stored in its first position within the projector housing.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3 wherein a portion of wall member 15 is viewed from the rear side, it is seen that spindle 17 is carried by a support arm 30 from which it extends perpendicularly outward, through a slot 31 (to be described more fully hereinafter) formed in wall member 15. Support arm 30 is movably mounted on wall member 15 by means of a pivot stud 32 which fits loosely in a slot 33 formed in one end of arm 30. The free end of pivot stud 32 is flanged so as to retain support arm 30, as shown in FIG. 4. By this arrangement, arm 30 is permitted a certain amount of linear and pivotal movement relative to stud 32. Spindle 17 is keyed for rotation with a shaft 34 which is rotatably mounted in a duo-flanged sleeve bearing 35 carried by the free-end of the support arm 30. Preferably, sleeve bearing 35 is secured to arm 30 by a tubular boss 36 within which this bearing is fitted. Boss is force fitted to arm 30 and includes a set screw 37 whereby bearing '35 is prevented from rotating relative to the boss.

Rotatably mounted on sleeve bearing 35 on the rear side of support arm 30 is a pulley 40 having a laterally extending arm member 41 attached to the periphery thereof. Pulley 40 is straddled by the lower flange 42 of bearing 35 and by boss 36 and is thereby prevented from sliding along the longitudinal axis of bearing 35. Rigidly coupled with a portion of shaft 34 extending beyond bearing flange 42 is a disc 45 having a radially extending tab 46 attached thereto. Tab 46 is arranged so as to be engaged by arm member 41 whenever pulley 40 is caused to rotate sufficiently as to bring these elements into coincidence. By this linkage, it is apparent that spindle 17 can be rotated whenever a sufficient rotational movement is imparted to pulley 40 as to bring arm member 41 and tab 46 into substantial coincidence. During the film rewinding operation when it is necessary to rotate spindle 17 in such a direction as to drive the supply reel in a wind-up direction, pulley 40 is caused to rotate by an endless drive belt 50 which is trained thereabout and about pulley 51 of a double pul ley 52. The latter is rotatably mounted on a shaft 53 extending outwardly from the rear side of wall member 15. Rotational movement in pulley 52 is imparted by a drive belt 55 trained about pulley 56 and driven, in a conventional manner, by projector means not shown.

Along one edge thereof, slot 31 is provided with means defining three arcuate detect indentations 60, 61 and 62 in respective coaxial alignment with the required three positions of the supply reel spindle. This edge, which functions as a cam surface, is straddled by flange 65 of flanged bearing 35 and the forward edge of boss 36 with the hub 66 of flanged bearing 35 bearing against the indentated edge of slot 31 under the force exerted by the resilient drive belt 50. Flanged bearing 35 functions in cooperation with the edge of slot 31 as a cam follower. To supplement the force exerted by drive belt 50, a spring 67 coupling pivot stud 32 with a tab 68 formed on the end of support arm 30 may be employed.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that spindle 17 may be manually shifted within slot 31 so as to occupy anyone of the detented positions 60, 61 and 62. To shift spindle 17 from one detent to another, the projector operator would merely grasp the spindle and urge it toward pivot stud 32 so as to remove it from the detent it had originally occupied, move the spindle along the slot 31 to a point opposing the detent in which the spindle is to be set, and then release the spindle, thereby permitting the force exerted by drive belt 50 and/or coil spring 67 to urge the hub of flange bearing 35 into its new position. In order to add stability to support arm 30, the free end thereof is provided with a pair of laterally positioned ears 70 and 71 which serve to resist any twisting forces which might be exerted on the support arm. Although a resilient drive belt and/or spring biasing of support arm 30 are preferred methods of biasing spindle 17 into one of its operative positions, such biasing could also be accomplished by movably mounting the shaft 53 about which the double pulley is rotatably mounted and providing means for biasing this shaft away from the indentated edge of slot 31.

Detent indentations 60, 61 are shown aligned so that spindle 17 is held in one of three predetermined positions along a straight line. However, it will readily be understood that the detent indentations may be so positioned such that the positions of spindle l7 define an arcuate locus.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinafter and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A film reel support structure for use on a motion picture projector housing, said support structure comprising:

a support arm;

a spindle adapted to support film reels of various capacity; said spindle being rotatably mounted on said support arm;

means for mounting said support arm on the projector housing for pivotal movement about and for longitudinal movement relative to an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said spindle, said first mentioned axis being fixed relative to the housing; and

detent means on said support arm and the housing for holding said support arm in at least two angularly spaced positions relative to the housing so that film reels of various capacities may be positioned for rotation about various axes dependent upon capacity.

2. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said detent means includes:

a cam follower on said support arm; and

means defining a cam surface arranged on the projector housing to be engaged by said cam follower, said cam surface comprising at least two spaced indentations which when occupied by said cam follower serve to hold said support arm in said at least two angularly spaced positions.

3. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said detent means further comprises means for biasing said support arm for movement in a direction urging said cam follower toward engagement with said cam surface.

4. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring connecting said support arm with the projector housing.

5. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said cam follower comprises a cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said spindle.

6. A spindle support arm for use with a motion picture projector, the projector including a housing and means on the housing for releasably and interchangeably retaining a plurality of cartridges of various capacity on the housing, the cartridges of each capacity containing a reel of corresponding capacity and defining in their operative positions on the projector an axis located relative to the projector at a position dependent on the capacity of the cartridge, and wherein the positions of the axes of the respective cartridges define a non-circular path in their operative positions on the projector, the support arm comprising:

an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal and longitudinal movement relative to the housing, said elongated member including a spindle movable with the member for rotatably and interchangeably supporting a selected one of the reels on the projector and within the corresponding cartridge; and,

means on the elongated member cooperative with the housing for guiding pivotal and longitudinal movement of the elongated member such that the spindle movable therewith will move along a noncircular path corresponding to the path defined by the axes of the respective cartridges.

7. In a motion picture projector adapted to project film wound on a supply reel rotatably contained within a cartridge, the combination comprising:

a projector housing adapted to interchangeably support a selected one of a plurality of cartridges of different capacity on the projector, each of such cartridges rotatably containing a supply reel having an axis of rotation and corresponding in capacity to the capacity of the cartridge; means on the housing for locating each of such cartridges and the respective reel contained therein on the projector with the axis of rotation of the respective reel located relative to the projector at a position dependent on the size of the reel;

21 spindle for rotatably and interchangeably supporting reels on the projector and within the cartridge;

means defining a pivot point on the projector; an elongated pivot member movably mounted on the means on the projector and the pivot member for guiding movement of the pivot member and spindle along a non-circular path defined by the respective reel axes.

8. A motion picture projector comprising:

a housing;

means on the housing adapted to locate cartridges of different sizes on the housing, the cartridges containing a roll of film corresponding in capacity to the size of the cartridge, each of the sizes of cartridges defining an axis about which the film roll in the respective cartridge is adapted to rotate wherein the axes of the different sizes of cartridges define a locus of points which do not lie on the arc of a circle;

means defining a pivot point on the projector;

a spindle for rotatably supporting the film roll on the projector and in the cartridge;

an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal and longitudinal movement about the pivot point and including means supporting said spindle for pivotal and longitudinal movement with the arm; and,

means for guiding movement of the member such that the spindle moveable therewith will move along the locus of points defined by the axes of the cartridges. 

1. A film reel support structure for use on a motion picture projector housing, said support structure comprising: a support arm; a spindle adapted to support film reels of various capacity; said spindle being rotatably mounted on said support arm; means for mounting said support arm on the projector housing for pivotal movement about and for longitudinal movement relative to an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said spindle, said first mentioned axis being fixed relative to the housing; and detent means on said support arm and the housing for holding said support arm in at least two angularly spaced positions relative to the housing so that film reels of various capacities may be positioned for rotation about various axes dependent upon capacity.
 2. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said detent means includes: a cam follower on said support arm; and means defining a cam surface arranged on the projector housing to be engaged by said cam follower, said cam surface comprising at least two spaced indentations which when occupied by said cam follower serve to hold said support arm in said at least two angularly spaced positions.
 3. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said detent means further comprises means for biasing said support arm for movement in a direction urging said cam follower toward engagement with said cam surface.
 4. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring connecting said support arm with the projector housing.
 5. A film reel support structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said cam follower comprises a cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said spindle.
 6. A spindle support arM for use with a motion picture projector, the projector including a housing and means on the housing for releasably and interchangeably retaining a plurality of cartridges of various capacity on the housing, the cartridges of each capacity containing a reel of corresponding capacity and defining in their operative positions on the projector an axis located relative to the projector at a position dependent on the capacity of the cartridge, and wherein the positions of the axes of the respective cartridges define a non-circular path in their operative positions on the projector, the support arm comprising: an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal and longitudinal movement relative to the housing, said elongated member including a spindle movable with the member for rotatably and interchangeably supporting a selected one of the reels on the projector and within the corresponding cartridge; and, means on the elongated member cooperative with the housing for guiding pivotal and longitudinal movement of the elongated member such that the spindle movable therewith will move along a non-circular path corresponding to the path defined by the axes of the respective cartridges.
 7. In a motion picture projector adapted to project film wound on a supply reel rotatably contained within a cartridge, the combination comprising: a projector housing adapted to interchangeably support a selected one of a plurality of cartridges of different capacity on the projector, each of such cartridges rotatably containing a supply reel having an axis of rotation and corresponding in capacity to the capacity of the cartridge; means on the housing for locating each of such cartridges and the respective reel contained therein on the projector with the axis of rotation of the respective reel located relative to the projector at a position dependent on the size of the reel; a spindle for rotatably and interchangeably supporting reels on the projector and within the cartridge; means defining a pivot point on the projector; an elongated pivot member movably mounted on the projector and supporting the spindle on the projector, said spindle being movable with said pivot member to any selected one of a plurality of positions corresponding to the position of any selected one of the reel axes, said pivot member being movable both angularly about said pivot point and longitudinally relative to the pivot point; and, means on the projector and the pivot member for guiding movement of the pivot member and spindle along a non-circular path defined by the respective reel axes.
 8. A motion picture projector comprising: a housing; means on the housing adapted to locate cartridges of different sizes on the housing, the cartridges containing a roll of film corresponding in capacity to the size of the cartridge, each of the sizes of cartridges defining an axis about which the film roll in the respective cartridge is adapted to rotate wherein the axes of the different sizes of cartridges define a locus of points which do not lie on the arc of a circle; means defining a pivot point on the projector; a spindle for rotatably supporting the film roll on the projector and in the cartridge; an elongated member mounted on the housing for pivotal and longitudinal movement about the pivot point and including means supporting said spindle for pivotal and longitudinal movement with the arm; and, means for guiding movement of the member such that the spindle moveable therewith will move along the locus of points defined by the axes of the cartridges. 